Ballot-box



(No Model') P K PLUMBLY BALLOT B0X.l

N. 478,264. Patented July 5, v1892.

, Ol IIIIHI llllllOVi PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERIC K. PLUMBLY, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

' BALLOT-BOX.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. 478,264, dated July 5, 1892. Application filed April 28, 1892. Serial No. 430,970. (No model.)

p a citizen of the United States, residing at Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of N ew York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ballot-Boxes; and Ido hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention,` such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to gures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

The object of my invention is to provide an improved form of ballot-box, so constructed and arranged as to prevent the admission of ballots thereto not only during the interval between the closing of the polls and the time at which the ballots contained therein are removed to be counted, but before the box is placed in position for use. I accomplish this by means of a plate open or slotted at one side only and so arranged as to be turned or reversed in position, so that when the open or slotted side in the plate registers with the slot in the cover of the box, the ballots can be freely admitted; but when the position of the plate is reversed the slot in the box is securely covered. The plate in both of these positions may be independently locked at more than one point, each lock with its key being of different construction, the principal object being to place the manipulation of the independent locks in the hands of the dulyappointed ofcials of the different parties, thereby removingthe control of the box from any one person or party. I will now proceed to describe the manner in which I have carried out my invention.

In the drawings,'Figure l is an elevation of my improved ballot-box. Fig. 2 is a central vertical section. Figs. 3 and 4 are respectively top plan views of the ballot-box opened and closed. Fig. 5 is a segmental vert-ical section in a different plane from that of Fig. 2, and Fig. 6 is a modified form of plate 9.

Referring to the drawings, 1 is the body or side, 2 the removable top or cover, and 3 the bottom of the box, forminga receptacle preferably of cylindrical shape. The body or sides 1 may be of galvanized iron, preferably corrugated for the sake of increased rigidity.

The top or cover 2 I prefer to be of sheet metal, 'and the bottom 3 may be of eithercast or-sheet metal. Upon the top or cover 2 and cast integral with it or rigidly secured thereto yare the posts or uprights 4, having the slots or apertures `5. A rod 6, secured in the central base 7 of the bottom 3, passes up loosely through the central orifice 8 in the cover and has its-upper end screw-threaded for locking purposes, as will be hereinafter shown.

9 is a plate having a screw-threaded central orifice 10, which engages with the fastening-rod 6 to lock the cover upon the box. AThe plate 9 is of a size and shape adapted to be easily turned between the posts 4 4 of the cover and upon the screw-threaded end of the rod 6, and is provided 011 opposite sides with the posts or uprights l1, between which at their `upper ends is arranged the handle l2 for both turning the-plate 9 and carrying the box.

In the posts l1 are the apertures 13, which register with the apertures 5 in the post 4 when the plate 9 is in either position.

144is the open side of the plate 9, which when they plate is in the position shown in Figs. 3 and 5 registers with the ballot-slot 15 in the cover 2.

16 16 are the padlocks, and 1717 theirkeys, each set being of different construction, if desired, to independently lock the two ends of the plate 9 to the coverby being passed through the sets of apertures 5 and 13 in the posts 4 and 11.

The part-s are put together as follows: The cover 2 is placed upon the body 1 of the box, as shown, the upper screw-threaded end of the rod 6 projecting above the top surface of the cover, which rests centrally upon ashonlder of the rod 6. The screw-threaded orifice 10 of the plate 9 is next engaged with the pro j ecting screw-thread ed end of the securing-rod 6, and the plate 9 is turned down thereon until at or very near the top surface of thecover 2. The plate 9 may then be secured in either position by the padlocks 16 to either open or close the ballot-slot 15 in the cover for the purposes already stated, at the same time securely locking the cover upon the box.

In Fig. 6 is shown a modification of the plate 9, in which a slot 18 in the plate takes the place of the open side 14. (Shown in Figs.

loo

3 and 4:.) Either form may be used with equal effect, or the plate might be cut away entirely across the open side.

It is to be understood that similar padlocks or one padlock alone maybe employed, if desired, so that one person can control the locking and unlocking of the box. The plate 9 might be locked at more than two places and reversed in position without connection with the locking-rod G, which could be independently operated or replaced by other wellknown locking devices for securing the cover to the box.

It will be seen that the box is constructed in what is known as knockdown form, the parts when separated being adapted for close packing. The body 1, of sheet metal, is in a single piece, its ends bein g secured together along one side by the fastening-bolts 19, the whole secured to the bottom 3 with similar bolts 20. In this manner the separated parts can be compactly arranged for transportation and quickly and readily put together when required for use, thereby permitting' of a great saving in the carrying cost.

I claiml. In a ballot-box, the combination, with its top or cover provided with a ballot-slot, of a locking-plate open or slotted on one side only, said plate being adapted to be turned or reversed in position to open or close the ballotslot and to be locked in either of its positions at one or more points, as and for the purpose stated.

2. In a ballot-box, the combination, with its top or cover provided with a ballot-slot, of a locking-plate open or slotted on one side only, said plate being adapted to be turned or reversed in position to open or close the ballotslot and to be secured in either of its positions at more than one point by separate and independent locks, as and for the purpose stated.

In a ballot-box, the combination, with its top or cover provided with a ballot-slot, of a locking-plate open or slotted on one side only, said plate being adapted to be turned or reversed in position to open or close the ballotslot and to be secured in either ot' its positions at more than one point by separate and independent locks of dierent constructions, as and for the purpose stated.

4f. In a ballot-boX,the combination, with its top or cover provided with a ballot-slot and means for securing said cover to the box, of a locking-plate open or slotted on one side only, said plate being adapted to be turned or reversed in position to open or close the ballotslot and to be secured in either of these positions at more than one point by separate and independent locks and to simultaneously secure the cover to the box, as and for thc purpose stated.

5. In a ballot-box, the combination, with the top or cover 2, provided with the ballot-slot l5 and posts 4t 4, with apertures 5 5, of the plate 9, with open side 14 and having apertured posts 'l1 13 and handle l2, the whole adapted to be locked through the apertures in the posts, substantially as and for the purpose stated.

6. In a ballot-box, the combination, with the top or cover 2, provided with ballot-slot 15, central aperture 8, and posts 4.- 4, with apertures 5 5, and the securing-rod G, screw-th readed at its upper end and secured to the bottom 3 at its lower end, of the plate 9, with open side 14 and centrally screw-threaded aperture 10 and having apertured posts Il 13 and handle 12, the box, its cover, and the plate, all adapted to be locked through the apertures in the posts, substantially as and for thc purpose stated.

7. A knockdown ballot-box consisting of the body 1, of one piece of sheet metal, bolted together along the side, the bottom 3, bolted to the body l, and the removable top or cover 2, secured in place by the screw-threaded rod G and any suitable locking mechanism.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

FREDERIC K. PLUMBLY.

Witnesses:

W. T. MILLER, O. E. HoDDIcK. 

